Juneau Riptide wins Under-17 state title

Juneau Soccer Club Riptide captured the Alaska State Cup Under-17 boys championship in Wasilla on Saturday with a 2-1 win over the Cook Inlet Soccer Club Velocity.

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The Riptide and Velocity fought to a scoreless tie in the first half before Sam Greely put his team ahead.

Five minutes into the second half, Greely scored off an assist from Joe Croteau to put the Riptide up 1-0.

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Dominic Smith made the score 2-0 less than four minutes later when he headed in Colin Flynn's cross.

The Velocity, the two-time defending champions, broke through in the 89th minute on a free kick, but the Riptide held on for victory.

Goalkeeper Sam Post along with fullbacks Zach Farrington, Derick Stewart, Isaac Stark, Justin Gundersen and Joe Slagle helped limit the Velocity's goal-scoring opportunities.

"Our team was motivated and focused throughout the tournament," Riptide coach Charlie Ford said in a news release. "A lot of the motivation came from the fact that we had played the Velocity the past two years for the championship. This was our year."

Riptide captains Elliot Ford and Flynn played well in the middle while forward Curtis Perkins and outside midfielders Nathan Ord, Curtis Mangusso and Fernando Valero helped pressure the Velocity.

With the win, the Riptide will represent Alaska in the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Las Vegas next June.

The Riptide earned a spot in the championship game with a 1-0 win on Friday against Alaska Rush of Anchorage.

Perkins scored the lone goal in that game with an assist from Smith.

"Our defense really came through for us in the final two games," Ford said in the release. "We had 25 shots on goal against the Rush, but Curtis Perkins provided the margin of victory."

The Riptide were co-coached by Craig Farrington and managed by Erin Smith.

• The Juneau Empire sports department can be reached at sports@juneauempire.com.